Wow! It is pure joy, all that hard work... this is his crowning glory. Although he just said not a great time to be heading into the work world, I am fully confident he will come up with a creative solution. He is a mover & a shaker, er Quaker-- all of the above!

Congratulations Fran to you and yours! I know how very excited he must be and how proud he has made you. He's now officially a Duck for life!

Ducks usually love the water, can be good swimmers, make great friends. Neighbors, too. We're fortunate ti have a Duck living just a few doors "down" and, while a Duck out of water, he appears very adaptable (as well as creative as you mentioned). We most often visit during the fall when we celebrate/commiserate after each weekend's Duck football game. And this fall will be *special* when those Ducks visit El Paso to experience a little basketball court *UTEP payback* for the Miners inhospitable visit to Eugene's home court last autumn. Whoops, but I digress.

Also, having a couple Duck alum nieces (one who married a Duck alum!), you're going to be very pleased to see how your son will make a great family member! We sure enjoy -- and love -- ours! ~ "Da-duh"

Thanks for the good wishes, I posted the blunt commencement speech post above. At least the guy spoke the truth. Strange times. Still college seems like a good place to be sheltered for a while to ride out the bad economy- the big ticket question is-- will it bounce back. When the kiddo started college tuition was $6,200 a year. When he graduated it was $8,700 a year. In the fall, it is $9,310 for in state undergrad tuition & $28,648 for out-of-state tuition. Plus Congress just doubled the student loan interest rate, so he dodged that one. Anymore, the smartest thing to do is go to Community College & take as many credits as you can & then finish up @ the University (dual enrollment).

Seems like endless fiery hoops keep popping up. Anyway, he is glad to be free @ last-- see somephotos to the right/top.

Our grad decided to wear his beloved/deceased Grandfather's (black) grad cap for his graduation. Our "Duck" was not like the other's. The official regalia page said "make it your own".... besides w 5015 grads, they would not have time to scrutinize minutia of regalia.

Made it easier to spot him in the crowd & the grandparents supported him in his college endeavors (they had Master's & PhD degrees)...

Thanks Fran for the add'l color commentary. I have to confess, just before writing my previous comment, I had been studying different breeds of dog; their characteristics. Hence, I suspect a tendency for deafness, hip dysplasia, year round shedding, loyalty, etc. other traits, I was still in that mode re your *new Duck*. But certainly, the congratulations were sincere.

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